Ask Me Help Desk - Theft in third degree after driving off and caught later

Okay, this was really stupid. I got caught stealing a twenty dollar tennis racket from K-mart. I got out of the door and upon arriving to my car, which was parked a good deal away, looked back and saw a k-mart associate trying to read my license plates. At thgis point, I drove off. A little ways down the road I looked back and a car was coming up on me fast. I turned into the local community college and not knwing what to do parked, unsure if this car was just driving fast or whether they really were after me. The car truned in as well and after creeping up on me slowly, drove off. At this point I moved my car and parked in a more well-hidden parking lot so I could think on what to do. Soon after a cop arrived, and evenbtually found me. I confessed, gave the officer the racket who then gave it to another officer to take it back to k-mart and then he asked me some questions.
I told him that it was dumb thing to do and that I did it on a whim. I told him it was the first time I had ever committed theft. Unfortuanately(now I don't know why) I told him that I had money in my wallet to pay for it, but had done it anyway. I told him that I was just planning to take it back to k-mart because I had realized that I had been caught.
My initial court date is 12 days from now. I am being charged with third degree theft. I have never been convicted of any crime before. I live in the state of Washington.
As far as I know, the store is not pressing charges. Is this something that I will find out later? I have heard that there is some kind of compromise to where if I pay the store for both the item that I had intended to steal, plus another large fee, and have them go in and drop off a letter saying I am forgiven, all charges can sometimes be dropped. I don't have money for legal council, but intend to ask. Should I at least talk to a lawyer before this court date to get some advice.
Finally I leave for school in about a month or so so I want this to go quickly. My main goals are to avoid jailtime and to find a way to get it off my record asap. If I get put on probation, will I be confined to that area or can I still go to school and have my probation transferred over to the other side of the state. I have a respectable job and am going to a good school. Will that even matter? Or help?
Mostly, what exactly am I most likely looking at in terms of punishment? Any advice would be GREATLY appreaciated

Oh yeah, and I'm 22 years of age

You can go to the court where you will be going and ask where you can go to get a public defender. In many states what you said is pretty much what happens, pay fine, restitution and take classes. But one of the people here says that shoplifting in Washington is a felony so I don't know what more that would mean for you with this. Since it is your first offense and that is what they told you that is pretty much what I would expect then.

Quote:

Originally Posted by iliff3

Okay, this was really stupid. I got caught stealing a twenty dollar tennis racket from K-mart. I got out of the door and upon arriving to my car, which was parked a good deal away, looked back and saw a k-mart associate trying to read my license plates. At thgis point, I drove off. A little ways down the road I looked back and a car was coming up on me fast. I turned into the local community college and not knwing what to do parked, unsure if this car was just driving fast or whether they really were after me. The car truned in as well and after creeping up on me slowly, drove off. At this point i moved my car and parked in a more well-hidden parking lot so i could think on what to do. Soon after a cop arrived, and evenbtually found me. I confessed, gave the officer the racket who then gave it to another officer to take it back to k-mart and then he asked me some questions.
I told him that it was dumb thing to do and that i did it on a whim. i told him it was the first time I had ever commited theft. Unfortuanately(now i dont know why) I told him that i had money in my wallet to pay for it, but had done it anyways. I told him that I was just planning to take it back to k-mart because i had realized that I had been caught.
My initial court date is 12 days from now. I am being charged with third degree theft. I have never been convicted of any crime before. I live in the state of Washington.
As far as I know, the store is not pressing charges. Is this something that i will find out later? I have heard that there is some kind of compromise to where if I pay the store for both the item that I had intended to steal, plus another large fee, and have them go in and drop off a letter saying i am forgiven, all charges can sometimes be dropped. I dont have money for legal council, but intend to ask. Should I at least talk to a lawyer before this court date to get some advice.
Finally i leave for school in about a month or so so i want this to go quickly. My main goals are to avoid jailtime and to find a way to get it off my record asap. If i get put on probation, will I be confined to that area or can i still go to school and have my probation transferred over to the other side of the state. I have a respectable job and am going to a good school. Will that even matter? Or help?
Mostly, what exactly am i most likely looking at in terms of punishment? Any advice would be GREATLY appreaciated

oh yeah, and im 22 years of age

Third degree theft in Washington is a gross misdemeanor. Nohelp is right - other theft charges are felonies but this one is not.

I see you being fined, doubt you will be placed on probation, might be forced to take some classes. Yes, this is an arrest and will be part of your Police Record.

Of course, it's up to the Judge and I can tell you that KMart (at least in my area) has zero tolerance since the merger with Sears (which is also tough on shoplifters).

I have heard on other posts people talking about something called a deversion. What is this? Could I ask for one? Avoiding going to court would be great

That is the classes they have you take. Basically you watch films on how the store loses money because of shoplifting and how it ends up making them have to raise prices and stuff like that. You have to go to court no matter what and then you have to go back to show you took the class(es). Also I forgot to point out that your driving off does make it worse too than 'simple' shoplifting.

Lets say they put me on probation. How does that work? Going to school can I have it transferred over to the other side of the state? And if the store really is looking to press charges to the maximum effect. When will I find out?

Quote:

Originally Posted by iliff3

Lets say they put me on probation. How does that work? Going to school can i have it transferred over to the other side of the state? And if the store really is looking to press charges to the maximum effect. When will I find out?

When you get to Court -

Again, no one knows what is going to happen until you are actually standing in front of the Judge and he speaks.

There are various conditions of probation. They do not HAVE to transfer you to another County.

If you want to transfer for school then you need to bring that up to the Judge.
If the Judge sees it as you are trying to do something to better your life they very likely could take that into consideration in their decisions.